Lapland Hotels Bear's Lodge

The hotel sits in a beautiful, quiet forest beside a lake. When we visited, the lake was frozen under thick snow, so we could walk across it, and there was a small slope for sledging. There isn’t much else to do because it’s remote, though Tui apparently puts on entertainment for children. We were three adults, so we didn’t try that. We had a great stay and would happily return. Everyone working there was friendly and welcoming. Our room in the main building was clean and warm, with a lovely view of the trees and a very comfortable bed. We slept well every night. The rooms are basic but have what you need. The bathroom could use an update, and there’s an odd gap under the shower screen. Water escaped there faster than it drained, so I had to put a towel down. We were on half board and really enjoyed all the meals. There was plenty of choice at breakfast and dinner, and we always left full. Breakfast is served downstairs, which got a bit hectic when busy, but staff kept replenishing the food and there was always enough. We preferred the upstairs restaurant for dinner, and the staff there looked after us well. Our flight was delayed, so check in was quiet when we arrived. Other guests said it had been very busy earlier, when several buses turned up together, with just one staff member at reception. There’s a small shop there selling snacks, drinks and gifts, and you can get hot chocolate or alcoholic drinks at the bar. On our day off, we took a taxi to Rovaniemi/SCV. It’s about 30 minutes each way, and our rides cost 80 euros each. Use a registered local taxi company. Some people wait outside SCV claiming to be taxis, but they’re just men in cars and can charge whatever they want. The Taksi Rovaniemi app was easy to use. It lets you track the car, add a note with your exact pickup location in town or at SCV, and see an estimated fare. You can pay in the app or cash, and the drivers also have card machines.

A pleasant, warm stay at a very good hotel. It’s a bit far out, but I’d definitely recommend it.

We chose a lodge and loved having our own space. The sauna was a highlight, and we were impressed by the food, with something for everyone. The kids and adults both had a great time sledging and playing by the frozen lake. We absolutely loved staying here and would recommend the lodge.

The staff provided excellent service. Breakfast was better for quality than for quantity. The hotel is a bit out of the way, and driving a rental car there can be stressful. Most roads have no street lights, so you depend on your headlights’ high beams, which can feel overwhelming if you’re not used to driving there. Between 10am and 3pm was the only time we felt we could drive safely, since the roads were icy as well as dark.